Interface between opto-electronic devices and fibers

ABSTRACT

An interface system includes separate optical and mechanical interfaces between opto-electronic devices and fibers. This allows each of these components to be optimized for there particular function. This also allows two surfaces to be provided for the optical interface, allowing the opto-electronic elements to be spaced further apart than the fibers. The interface system can be integrated together, used in conjunction with a conventional fiber housing, and can be surface mounted with an electrical interface.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 09/418,365 filed Oct. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,195, and is related to the commonly assigned application entitled “Optical Subassembly”, filed Oct. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,004, and its commonly pending progeny, U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 10/032,911 filed Dec. 28, 2001, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to interfacing opto-electronic devices with fibers, particularly using separate elements for an optical interface and a mechanical interface.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

There are numerous ways to couple light to and from opto-electronic devices and fibers. One typical manner in which this is achieved is to butt couple the opto-electronic devices right up against the end faces of the fiber. Such butt-coupling requires active alignment to achieve desired levels of coupling efficiency. Further, butt-coupling does not allow the light beam to be modified. Finally, such butt-coupling typically requires close positioning of the opto-electronic devices in accordance with the spacing of the fibers, increasing crosstalk.

Another manner of achieving coupling between fibers and opto-electronic devices is to use short fibers, which in turn are coupled to the fibers. This allows surface emitting opto-electronic devices to be coupled with fibers, but still requires active alignment.

One passive alignment scheme proposed involves providing holes in all of the components to be aligned, e.g., a ferrule housing the fibers, a light coupling device including optics and a substrate including the opto-electronic devices. Pins are then inserted into the holes to realize alignment of all the elements. Such single shot alignment may not be accurate enough for all applications. Further, the materials which can be used for the light coupling device are limited when the holes need to be provided therein. Finally, such alignment requires that there be a linear relationship among all of the components.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is therefore directed to an interface which substantially overcomes one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

The above and other objects can be realized by providing an interface system between an opto-electronic device and a fiber in a housing including an optics block having at least one optical element formed therein for coupling light between the fiber and the opto-electronic device and a mechanical interface, separate from the optics block, at least part of the mechanical interface being disposed between the optics block and the housing, which aligns and mates the housing and the optics block.

The opto-electronic device may include at least two opto-electronic devices including an optical emitter and an optical detector. The opto-electronic device may include an array of identical opto-electronic devices. The mechanical interface may surround the optics block. The mechanical interface may be mounted on the optics block. The housing may include holes there through for receiving corresponding pins therein and the mechanical interface further includes holes for receiving the pins. A spacer block may be provided between the optics block and the opto-electronic device. An alignment plane of the mechanical interface may be at an angle to a top surface of the optics block. A reflective surface may direct light between the optics block and the mechanical interface. The mechanical interface may include an indentation which receives the optics block and an extension in the indentation to provide vertical spacing between the optics block and the fiber. The at least one optical element on the optics block may homogenize light.

The optics block and the mechanical interface may be made of different material. The optics block may be made from one of silicon and glass. The mechanical interface may be opaque at the wavelengths being transferred between the fiber and the optics block. The optics block may include visual alignment features for aligning the optics block with the mechanical interface. There may be mechanical mating features on the optics block and corresponding mechanical mating features on the mechanical interface for aligning the optics block and the mechanical interface.

The above and other objects may be realized by providing a system including a housing having a fiber, an opto-electronic device, an optics block having two surfaces, the optics block coupling light between the opto-electronic device and the fiber, and a mechanical interface, separate from the optics block, at least part of the mechanical interface being disposed between the optics block and the housing which aligns and mates the housing and the optics block.

The opto-electronic device may include at least two opto-electronic devices and the fiber may include at least two fibers. The at least two opto-electronic devices may be a light source and a light detector. The at least two opto-electronic devices may include an array of identical opto-electronic devices. The at least two opto-electronic devices may be separated from each other in at least one direction by more than the at least two fibers are separated from one another. The at least two opto-electronic devices are separated from each other in at least two directions by more than the at least two fibers are separated from one another in each respective direction. The system may be surface mounted to an electrical interface.

A spacer between the optics block and the opto-electronic device may surround the opto-electronic device. A substrate may be provided with both a bottom of the opto-electronic device and the spacer being bonded to the substrate. The top surface of the opto-electronic device may be bonded to the spacer and the spacer further includes interconnection tracks.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is an exploded elevational perspective view of an interface of the present invention in conjunction with the fibers in a housing and the opto-electronic devices;

FIG. 1B is an elevational perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a side view also illustrating internal features of the system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D is an exploded front view also illustrating internal features of the system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1E is a top view of the system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1F is a front view of the system of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A is an exploded elevational perspective view of an optical subassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is an exploded side view of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of the fiber housing and an interface of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an exploded side view of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a front view of another embodiment of the optical interface of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is top view of the opto-electronic devices in relation to alignment holes;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the interface of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of another embodiment of the optical subassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an elevational exploded view of another embodiment of the optical subassembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 7B is an exploded side view of the configuration shown in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen in FIGS. 1A-1F, a plurality of fibers 10 are inserted into a ferrule 12. Opto-electronic devices 14 which are to be in communication with the fibers 10 are preferably provided on a silicon bench or sub-mount 16. In turn, this silicon bench 16 is preferably provided on a substrate 18. An optics block 20 provides at least one optical element between each opto-electronic device 14 and a corresponding fiber 10. The optics block 20 is preferably spaced from the opto-electronic devices 14 by a spacer 15. The optical elements preferably include elements which collimate, focus and/or homogenize the light. Since the optics block has two surfaces, two optical elements may be provided thereon. Further, if required, additional optics blocks may be bonded to and spaced from the optics block 20 to provide additional surfaces.

A mechanical interface 22 aligns the optics block 20, which is already aligned with the optical devices 14 and with the mechanical interface 22, with the fibers 10. This may be achieved by alignment features on both the mechanical interface 22 and the ferrule 12 housing the fibers 10. In the particular example shown, these alignment features consist of holes 24 in the ferrule 12, which are already typically present for aligning the ferrule with other devices, and alignment holes 26 in the mechanical interface 22. Once these alignment holes 24, 26 are aligned, an alignment pin, not shown, may then be inserted therein to maintain the aligned position.

The provision of separate elements to provide the mechanical interface and the optical interface provides several advantages. For example, the provision of the alignment holes 26 in the mechanical interface 22 allows the optics block to be made of a material selected for its optical properties. For example, the optics block may be made of glass, which is preferable for forming optics therein. However, it is difficult to accurately form cylindrical holes in glass. Thus, this material would not be suitable if the holes had to be provided therein as well, i.e., if the mechanical and optical interface were to be realized by single element. Further, since the mechanical interface is to accept the alignment pins, it must be of sufficient size to accommodate the pins. Glass may be too fragile for such a purpose. Finally, glass is able to withstand the heat such as during soldering of the device to a printed circuit board or other electrical interface. Thus, the system may be surface mounted or pluggable to an electrical interface.

The mechanical interface may similarly be made of a material best suited for its function. The mechanical interface 22 also preferably includes an aperture 28 which allows light to travel between the opto-electronic devices 14 and the fibers 10 without interference from the mechanical interface. This aperture also allows the mechanical interface to be made of any desired material, such as an opaque, thermally stable material in which holes may be accurately and easily formed, such as a glass filled plastic, ceramic or molded plastic, without regard to the optical properties thereof.

Further, in the particular example shown, the aperture 28 is made large enough to surround the optics block 20, except for at a lip 30, which in turn provides the desired separation between a top of the optics block 20 and an end face of the fibers. If the mechanical interface 22 is made of a material which is transparent to wavelengths of light being exchanged between the fibers and the opto-electronic devices, such an aperture 28 may no longer be needed. Some cut-out for accepting the optics block 20, with the remaining portion serving as a spacer, may still be desirable. Either configuration will result in no physical contact between the fibers 10 and the optics block 20.

The alignment for the entire structure is discussed below in relation to FIGS. 2A-3. follows. FIGS. 2A-2B, show the alignment of the optics subassembly including the optics block 20 and the opto-electronic devices 14. First, the opto-electronic devices 14 are provided on the bench 16. Then, if the spacer 15 is being used, alignment features 34, such as fiducial marks, on the spacer 15 are aligned to alignment features 32, such as fiducial marks, on the bench 16. The spacer 15 is then bonded, e.g., using solder or epoxy, into place on the bench 16. The bevels which can be seen on the interior surface of the spacer 15 simply arise when using silicon as the spacer and the hole therein is formed by wet etching silicon along its crystalline plane. While wet-etching is a simple way of forming the hole in the spacer, vertical side walls may be more advantageous, e.g., for load bearing. Substantially vertical side walls may be realized by dry etching silicon. Further, other materials such as ceramic, glass, plastic, may be used for the spacer 15. If the spacer 15 is transparent to wavelengths of interest, the hole therein may not be required.

Then, alignment features 36, such as fiducial marks, on the optics block 20 are aligned with the corresponding features on the spacer 15 and the bench 16 to align the optics block to the opto-electronic devices 14. The optics block 20 is then bonded into place, e.g., using solder or epoxy, on the spacer 15. The optical elements on the optics block 20, as well as the alignment features 36, may be mass-produced on a wafer level and then diced to form individual optics blocks. Thus, only the alignment of the optical block 20 is required to align all of the optical elements thereon with the opto-electronic devices 14.

Preferably, the alignment and bonding of the spacer and the optics block occur on a wafer level, and then diced to form respective dies which are then aligned to the bench 16. The alignment of the spacer is not very sensitive, i.e., the spacer just needs to be aligned so that it does not block light between the optics block 20 and the opto-electronic device. While a spacer may be formed directly on the optics block itself, the use of a separate spacer 15 allows larger vertical separation to be achieved. The use of a separate spacer is particularly advantageous when providing optical elements on a bottom surface of the optics block 20, since the processes for forming the optics and the spacer features interfere with each other. Finally, use of a separate spacer allows the sealing off of the opto-electronic device 14 to be more readily and stably achieved. Such sealing protects the opto-electronic device 14 from environmental factors, such as humidity.

For certain wavelengths, e.g., in the near infrared, the optics block 20 may be made of another material, e.g., silicon. Then, all of the elements in the optical subassembly, i.e., the substrate, the spacer and the optics block, may be made of the same material, e.g., silicon. Making all of these elements of the same material reduces stress between these elements due to a difference in the thermal coefficient of expansion.

Alignment of the optics block 20 to the mechanical interface 22 and the fibers 10 is shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. While the optics block 20 has already been aligned with the opto-electronic devices 14, only the optics block 20 is shown for simplicity. In the particular example shown, the optics block 20 is to be passively aligned with the mechanical interface 22. Access holes 38 are provided in the mechanical interface to facilitate positioning of the optics block 20. When the mechanical interface is not to surround the optics block, the access holes 38 are not needed.

Such passive alignment may be realized using fiducial marks and/or mechanical mating features on the optics block 20 and the lip 30 of the mechanical interface 22. The lip 30 provides an optical mounting surface which maintains the optics block 20 at the desired distance from the end face of the fibers 10. Once aligned, the optics block 20, and thus the opto-electronic devices 14, are bonded to the mechanical interface 22. The mechanical interface 22, and all the components bonded thereto, are aligned to the housing 12 via alignment holes 24, 26 to complete the structure.

In addition to the passive alignment set forth above, in which alignment features are provided on the elements being aligned, passive alignment may also be realized using an alignment template and/or using the position of the holes for receiving the pins in the mechanical interface. Further, active alignment may also be used.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 4A. Here, the mechanical interface 22 does not surround the optics block, but rather is positioned on top of the optics block 20. The aperture 28 and the alignment holes 26 are still part of the mechanical interface 22, but the other features are not needed. Further, the alignment features may be included on the body of the mechanical interface 22, since the lip is no longer present.

By utilizing both surfaces of the optics block 20, the opto-electronic devices 14 may be placed further apart, while still realizing a compact system for delivering light between the opto-electronic devices 14 and the fibers 10. Such placement may reduce cross talk between the opto-electronic devices. As shown in FIG. 4A, assuming the opto-electronic devices are light emitters, optics 44 on a first surface 42 of the optics block 20 collimates and deflects light from the opto-electronic device 14. Optics 46 on a second surface 48 of the optics block 20 focuses light onto the fiber 10. Obviously, if the opto-electronic devices are detectors, the functioning of the optics would be reversed.

The ability to place the opto-electronic devices further apart than the fibers is particularly advantageous when the system is a transceiver system, i.e., there is at least one light emitter and at least one light detector. This spacing may be further enhance by additionally separating the emitter and detector in a direction orthogonal to the direction shown in FIG. 4A. Such a configuration is shown in FIG. 4B, where a light emitter 50 is separated from a light detector 52 in two directions. While these elements are still between the alignment holes 24, 26, they are further apart than the fibers 10 and are also separated an orthogonal direction. Such separation minimizes crosstalk, while maintaining the original profile. Further, this separation can be realized even when the optics block is not larger than the mechanical interface.

A configuration employing the interface of the present invention where the fiber housing is positioned orthogonally to the plane of the opto-electronic devices is shown in FIG. 5. The alignment holes 24, 26 are still used to align the fiber housing 12 and the mechanical interface 22, the mechanical interface 22 is now aligned to the side of the optics block 20. In order to direct light between the fibers and the opto-electronic devices 14, a reflective surface 60 is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, this reflective surface 60 may be formed in glass or other materials. A metal coating may be provided on this surface to enhance the reflectivity thereof. The material having the reflective surface may then be bonded to a top surface of the optical block 20.

In the particular example shown in FIG. 5, the opto-electronic element 14 is a VCSEL and another opto-electronic element 14′ is a power monitor for monitoring the power output by the VCSEL. A first element 62 on the optics block 20 splits off and collimates part of the beam output by the VCSEL and directs it to the power monitor 14′. A second optical element 64 may be provided on the optics block 20 to focus the light onto the power monitor 14′. Details of such a configuration are set forth in commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/386,280 entitled “Diffractive Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Power Monitor and System” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Meanwhile, the undeflected portion of the light travels to a third optical element 66, where it is focused onto the fiber, after being reflected by the reflective surface 60. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, alignment may be realized using the alignment holes already available on the fiber housing without requiring that the components all be in the same plane. While a VCSEL array is discussed above, a detector array could be similarly positioned.

While all the previous configurations have illustrated the opto-electronic devices bonded on the bottoms thereof to a substrate 16, thereby requiring wire-bonding to realized their required electrical connections, FIGS. 6-7B illustrate bonding the top of the opto-electronic devices to the optics block. Since all the interconnections on the typical opto-electronic devices are provided on the top thereof, such bonding allows the use of wire bonding to be eliminated, which in turn allows more compact interconnections to be realized.

As shown in FIG. 6, the interconnections to the opto-electronic device 14 can be realized using a pair of flex leads, a signal flex lead 72 and a ground flex lead 74. An interconnect spacer 70 serves the same function as the previous spacer 15, but also includes interconnection tracks for connecting the opto-electronic element 14 to the signal flex lead 72. If space permits, interconnection tracks for the ground flex lead 74 may also be provided on the interconnect spacer 70. Otherwise, the ground flex lead 74 may be attached to the bottom of the opto-electronic device 14, as shown in FIG. 6. While shown as a separate element in FIG. 6, the interconnect spacer 70 may be integral with the optics block 20. The opto-electronic device preferably is mounted on a heat sink block 78. Thus, the module can be surface mounted or plugged into an electrical interface, e.g., a printed circuit board or flex circuit, without additional housing which may be needed to connect the wire bond configurations discussed above.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, another configuration eliminating the need for wire bonds includes again providing the interconnect spacer 70 to which the opto-electronic device 14, here a VCSEL array, is bonded. While shown as a separate element in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the interconnect spacer 70 may be integral with the optics block 20. Instead, of connecting the opto-electronic device 14 to flex leads, the interconnect spacer 70 now includes metal lines 80 on a bottom surface thereof, extending from the opto-electronic device 14. A chip carrier 86, preferably ceramic, has a hole 84 therein for receiving the opto-electronic device 14 therein. The chip carrier 86 is preferably attached to the spacer 80 using a sealing ring 88, e.g., any conventional adhesive.

The chip carrier 86 also includes a connection region 82 with vias to connect the metal lines 80 to the outside, e.g., through a bottom surface of the chip carrier. This may be accomplished, for example, using holes 90 through the chip carrier lined with metal. Thus, the module can be surface mounted or plugged into an electrical interface, e.g., a printed circuit board or flex circuit, without additional housing which may be needed to connect the wire bond configurations discussed above. While the configuration shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B has assumed all required connections for the opto-electronic device are on the top surface thereof, a ground connection could also be provided on the bottom surface.

When using a spacer which is transparent to wavelengths of interest and in the path of the radiation, such as shown in FIGS. 6-7B, the spacer may have optical elements formed thereon. For example, if the spacer and the optics block are made of the same material, there will not be an optical interface between them. Thus, a bottom surface of the spacer can be used on a second optical surface. The opto-electronic device could be slightly removed from this bottom surface even when bonded to the bottom surface, for example, providing a thick enough layer of bonding material. If a separate spacer is not used, the opto-electronic device may still be attached to the bottom of the optics block with this bonding spacing such that the optics block still provides two surfaces. If the spacer and the optics block are made of different material, optics may be provided on either surface of the spacer. Of course, additional optics block may be bonded together to provide the surfaces needed, but with a commensurate increase in thickness of the system.

It is further noted that the any of the individual components described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used with other configurations. For example, the opto-electronic device 14 as shown in FIGS. 6-7B, may be bonded to the bottom of the optics block in the configuration of FIGS. 1-2A.

While the present invention is described herein with reference to illustrative embodiments for particular applications, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Those having ordinary skill in the art and access to the teachings provided herein will recognize additional modifications, applications, and embodiments within the scope thereof and additional fields in which the invention would be of significant utility without undue experimentation. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by examples given. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An interface system between an opto-electronic device and a fiber in a housing, the housing having a terminal surface at which the end face of the fiber is located, the interface system comprising: an optics block having at least one optical element formed therein for coupling light between the end face of the fiber and the opto-electronic device; a mechanical interface which aligns and mates the housing and the optics block, said mechanical interface being separate from the optics block and the housing, wherein at least part of the mechanical interface is disposed between the optics block and the housing, wherein the mechanical interface includes a first surface to be positioned adjacent to the terminal surface of the housing and a second surface, opposite the first surface, adjacent to the optics block; mechanical mating features on the optics block; and corresponding mechanical mating features on the mechanical interface, the mechanical interface including an indentation receiving the optics block.
 2. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said opto-electronic device comprises at least two opto-electronic devices comprise an optical emitter and an optical detector.
 3. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said opto-electronic device comprises an array of identical opto-electronic devices.
 4. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical interface surrounds said optics block.
 5. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical interface is mounted on said optics block.
 6. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes holes there through for receiving corresponding pins therein and said mechanical interface further comprises holes for receiving the pins.
 7. The interface system of claim 1, further comprising a spacer block between the optics block and the opto-electronic device.
 8. The interface system of claim 1, wherein an alignment plane of the mechanical interface is at an angle to a top surface of the optics block.
 9. The interface system of claim 8, further comprising a reflective surface directing light between the optics block and the mechanical interface.
 10. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical interface comprises an extension in the indentation to provide vertical spacing between the optics block and the fiber.
 11. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said at least one optical element on the optics block homogenizes light.
 12. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said optics block and said mechanical interface are made of different material.
 13. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said optics block is made from one of silicon and glass.
 14. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical interface is opaque at the wavelengths being transferred between the fiber and the optics block.
 15. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said optics block comprises visual alignment features for aligning the optics block with the mechanical interface.
 16. A system comprising: a housing having a fiber, the housing including a terminal surface at which an end face of the fiber is located; an opto-electronic device; an optics block having two surfaces, said optics block coupling light between the opto-electronic device and the end face of the fiber; a mechanical interface which aligns and mates the housing and the optics block, said mechanical interface being separate from the optics block and the housing, wherein at least part of the mechanical interface is disposed between the optics block and the housing, wherein the mechanical interface includes a first surface adjacent to the terminal surface of the housing and a second surface, opposite the first surface, adjacent to the optics block; mechanical mating features on the optics block; and corresponding mechanical mating features on the mechanical interface, the mechanical interface including an indentation receiving the optics block.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said opto-electronic device comprises at least two opto-electronic devices and the fiber comprises at least two fibers.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least two opto-electronic devices comprise a light source and a light detector.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least two opto-electronic devices comprise an array of identical opto-electronic devices.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least two opto-electronic devices are separated from each other in at least one direction by more than said at least two fibers are separated from one another.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said at least two opto-electronic devices are separated from each other in at least two directions by more than said at least two fibers are separated from one another in each respective direction.
 22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a spacer surrounding the opto-electronic device.
 23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a substrate, both a bottom of said opto-electronic device and the spacer being bonded to the substrate.
 24. The system of claim 16, wherein a top surface of said opto-electronic device is bonded to the spacer and the spacer further comprises interconnection tracks.
 25. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is surface mounted to an electrical interface.
 26. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said mechanical mating features on the mechanical interface is the indentation.
 27. The interface system of claim The interface system of claim 16, wherein said mechanical mating features on the mechanical interface is the indentation.
 28. An interface system between an opto-electronic device and a fiber in a housing, the housing having a terminal surface at which the end face of the fiber is located the interface system comprising: an optics block having at least one optical element formed therein for coupling light between the end face of the fiber and the opto-electronic device; a mechanical interface which aligns and mates the housing and the optics block, said mechanical interface being separate from the optics block and the housing, wherein at least part of the mechanical interface is disposed between the optics block and the housing, wherein the mechanical interface includes a first surface to be positioned adjacent to the terminal surface of the housing and a second surface, opposite the first surface, adjacent to the optics block; and mechanical mating features aligning and mating the housing and the mechanical interface, wherein the mechanical mating features terminate in the mechanical interface. 